Admiral Eric Olson: Understanding the Global Risk Landscape

The first US Navy SEAL to be appointed to three-star and four-star rank, Admiral Eric Olson (Ret.), former commander of the US Special Operations Command, is one of the most decorated US Navy officers in modern history. He discusses his career as a SEAL, lessons from a life of service and why an effective military strategy is about more than just firepower.

On developing a culture of teamwork: "It’s all about the mission, and the most important thing is to know your purpose. Once you know your purpose, and you get the people and the equipment and the sort of training and organization that [support] that purpose, then it creates a culture of its own. You spend a lot of time together, and you learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses."